J&K govt to give one-time option to employees to opt for OPS

They deserve for OPS!

•  On the analogy for Central government, the Jammu & Kashmir government must grant one-time option to those employees whose posts were advertised or notified prior to cut-off date.
•  The exam of three batches for KAS and KPS were conducting in 2009 but the selection was delayed on the part of government.

jj correspondent

Jammu, Jun 15: It is astounding to hear but it is true that the employees who have joined the J&K government services for posts advertised or notified before the 01-01-2010 especially of PSC including KAS and KPS are struggling hard to be governed by the Old Pension Scheme as they are legally eligible for the same.
It is clear that the employees who will be appointed on or after 01-01-2010 would be governed under the new pension scheme but those posts have been advertised or notified prior to 01-01-2010 would be governed by Old pension Scheme. There are reports that the posts of KAS and KPS were advertised and notified in 2008 for three batches but the appointments were delayed, so the administration decided to put them in the category of New Pension Scheme. But in the similar cases the central government has given a one-time option to opt for the old pension scheme.
It is pertinent to mention that a select group of central government employees have been given a one-time option to opt for the old pension scheme. Employees who joined the central government services for posts advertised or notified prior to December 22, 2003, the day the National Pension System (NPS) was notified, are eligible to join the old pension scheme under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021), according to an Office Memo issued on Friday by the Union Ministry of Personnel, Pension and Public Grievances.
The Govt of India notified the National Pension Scheme on Dec 23, 2003, and implemented from 01.01.2004 thus discontinuing the benefits of the Old Pension Scheme to all those employees who joined the government service after 01.01.2004. However, the government employees selected against the posts notified and advertised before the cut-off date of NPS i.e. Dec 23, 2003, and who were undergoing the selection process like tests, medical, police verifications, filling of formalities of appointment and could join after 01.01.2004 were pushed to the disadvantageous cover of New Pension Scheme.
In the similar pattern the government of Jammu & Kashmir must provide a chance to those employees who were appointed after the cut-off date but the same posts were notified prior to the cut-off date should be given a chance to opt for Old Pension Scheme.
The Central Administrative Tribunal also issued directions to the Commissioner Secretary, Department of finance, Government of Jammu & Kashmir to consider and take a decision on the pending representations of the petitioners and pass a reasoned and speaking order, in accordance with relevant rules on the subject, within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of certified copy of the order. The CAT has also issued directions in the favour of petitioners but now the ball is in the court of government.
The petitioners are expecting from the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Secretary that their genuine demand be accepted and governed under THE Old Pension Scheme.